Toni Sleugh

Ph.D., Marine Biology, University of California, San Diego

SoP Prompt: State and justify your interest in research areas and Scripps faculty. Discuss why you are interested in these areas and how your experiences (academic or otherwise) are relevant to your continuing academic studies. Include any research experience or publications you have and list any skills not otherwise noted in your application. Explain why you chose to become a graduate student and why you chose the Scripps Institution of Oceanography. 

A longer version of the prompt can be found here: https://grad.ucsd.edu/admissions/requirements/statement-of-purpose.html

Ever since I learned that most of the ocean is unexplored, I have wanted to help expand our limited knowledge of one of the most important and fascinating ecosystems on Earth. Even though I mostly grew up in landlocked states, I devoured every resource about marine life available, and I loved discovering more about the strange, alien-like life that exists in the oceans. The way that these organisms communicate and collaborate to survive in one of the most extreme environments on earth is both captivating and inspiring. However, the more I learned about marine life, the more I learned about the ways human society harms it. My passion for marine biology quickly grew into a passion for marine conservation. I feel called to better understand the ways in which we impact the ocean in our everyday lives and how to reduce those impacts. I am now applying to pursue a Ph.D. in Marine Biology at UC San Diego so that I am better equipped to holistically preserve marine ecosystems in a way that benefits both society and nature.

Throughout my undergraduate career, I have actively pursued opportunities to expand my knowledge about marine science research and its application to conservation. The summer after my freshman year, I completed an REU at the Marine Biological Laboratory in Woods Hole, Massachusetts. I worked with Dr. Aran Mooney at the Woods Hole Oceanographic Institution (WHOI) on a project examining the impacts of increasing temperature and CO 2 concentrations on the swimming behavior of squid paralarvae. I reviewed videos of larval swimming behavior using Matlab, developed methods to quantify their activity, and analyzed data using R to visualize the results. Through that project, I learned about the research process, scientific communication, and applied science. Being able to think like a scientist both confirmed my love for marine science and piqued my interest in the power of science to inform policy around important environmental issues, such as climate change. After my REU, I was excited to get more experience in marine science research, especially focusing on climate change and ocean acidification.

To meet this goal, I applied to the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration’s (NOAA) Hollings Program. Through the Hollings Program, I worked as part of the Northeast Fisheries Science Center’s fisheries ecology branch with Dr. Chris Chambers. Because the in-person portion of my internship was cancelled due to the COVID-19 pandemic, I had to quickly adjust to a new, virtual project that required more independence. I conducted a meta-analysis to determine how simulated ocean acidification impacted the biological responses of marine arthropods. I led a team to design a common approach, reducing discrepancies introduced by different data collection techniques, and developed new questions based on existing research. We collected and analyzed our data, created visualizations, and presented our completed project. Even though it was virtual, this project examined the impacts of ocean acidification on a broader scale than my previous REU project and allowed me to participate in the scientific process from start to finish. Reading and synthesizing knowledge from over 150 articles gave me the perspective to appreciate the importance of each individual study and their collective informative power. In the time leading up to this internship, I began making plans to attend graduate school in marine science.

To help me prepare for this goal, I also applied for the Ronald E. McNair Scholars Program at ISU which provided me with more research opportunities and resources for graduate school preparation. As a McNair Scholar, I am working with Dr. Kevin Roe to reintroduce endangered freshwater mussels to their native habitat in Iowa rivers using an artificially propagated population. We are comparing propagated mussels to wild populations to determine whether they possess comparable genetic diversity before reintroduction. This research was interrupted by COVID-19, but this fall we have been placing propagated mussels into streams and monitoring the success of their populations. In my collaboration with Dr. Roe, I learned new laboratory techniques, including PCR, DNA extraction, and gel electrophoresis. I have also gotten the opportunity to do field work and monitor the growth of the propagated mussels and water quality in the streams in which they were placed. The applied nature of this project has encouraged me to branch out and learn more about freshwater habitats, a subject I was less familiar with than the marine ecosystems that have captured much of my scientific interest. I also value the wet lab and field experience in conservation research and seeing first-hand how science can positively impact damaged ecosystems.

Learning more about the science behind environmental change led me to get more actively involved with various sustainably-minded local and campus organizations. As the Director of Sustainability for Iowa State’s student government, my committee and I provided funding for student-led projects, developed our own initiatives, and often collaborated with the university’s Office of Sustainability. The project I am most proud of is the Climate Commitment Plan, a call to action for the university which encouraged them to commit to transitioning to 100% renewable electricity by 2035 and prioritize sustainable development. The plan passed the student government senate unanimously, and we received around 1,500 student and community member signatures on a petition supporting the plan. I have since become directly involved with the ISU chapter of Climate Reality, serving as chapter chair, and became part of the Ames Climate Action Team, a grassroots organization which advocates for sustainable development. Through this work, I was selected by the university president to serve as a member of the University Sustainability Committee which directly advises the president on issues of sustainability. Just this semester, the university approved a plan to cut greenhouse gas emissions in half as a result of our work. It has been incredibly rewarding to see positive change on campus and in our community as a result of our hard work. Through these experiences, I have learned that environmental science does not exist in a vacuum. While research is incredibly important to conservation, it is essentially meaningless without policy changes and effective implementation. For this reason, I am committed to continuing to use my scientific knowledge to advocate for sustainable policies.

For the past few years, I have grappled with the choice between an academic career in marine biology and a more public-facing career in environmental policy. However, I am determined to merge these two interests and pursue a career in which I apply marine science research to develop effective policy solutions to real world problems. I want my research to be used not only to understand how our oceans are changing, but also to understand what we can do to combat that change and preserve one of our most precious resources. In the future, I would like to work as a marine policy analyst or science advisor for a governmental agency. I want to collaborate with multiple stakeholders to evaluate the effectiveness of current marine conservation strategies and develop dynamic management practices that benefit everyone involved. Earning a Ph.D. will allow me to dive into the specific areas of marine conservation that I am interested in and develop the research and analytical skills I need for my future career. I am specifically interested in Scripps’ Marine Biology Program because of the opportunities it offers to integrate my passions for science and policy. Both Dr. Brice Semmens and Dr. Jennifer Smith both do research that closely matches that interest. These scientists work at the intersection of fundamental and applied science. While their research explores different aspects of marine ecology, they both do so in the context of conservation. This research, which aims to improve our understanding of positive and negative human impacts on marine ecosystems, is exactly the type of work that I want to be a part of.

Being a Black, queer woman and a child of immigrants means that I have a unique lived experience and am well versed with the challenges that come with being the minority, especially in the scientific community. I have continuously battled the negative stereotypes and microaggressions that come with existing in spaces with a lack of diversity. Although these experiences can be frustrating and discouraging, they are a large part of the reason why I continue to pursue a career in marine science. I know the value of representation for underrepresented minorities in STEM. My motivation comes not just for my own success or for my family, but also for all underrepresented students who aspire to be scientists. Throughout my undergraduate career, I have worked to build community amongst students of color by founding an organization which connects first year multicultural students with events and resources from other multicultural organizations. I am determined to improve inclusivity in higher education, specifically in STEM fields, and this is something I will continue to work on in my graduate degree and beyond. Future scientists from all backgrounds should feel confident, welcomed, and safe in their respective fields. I want to attend graduate school because I am deeply passionate about marine science and conservation, but also because I want to be an example to young scientists that their passions can become careers no matter what obstacles they may face. I believe that the diverse community at Scripps is the perfect environment for me to continue to develop both professionally and personally. I am excited about the opportunity to expand my knowledge and start the next step in my journey at UC San Diego.